A ROW has erupted after a Conservative AM criticised free condoms schemes for teenagers as encouraging “early parenthood as a career option”.

Children as young as 13 are being given condoms without their parents’ knowledge.

Last year Wrexham council was preparing to run a pilot scheme in one of its schools offering morning-after pills and condoms to pupils.

And condoms are being handed out at 12 youth clubs and information shops in Flintshire by the county’s Youth and Community Service.

Mark Isherwood, Conservative AM for North Wales, warned it could encourage overly liberal attitudes to sex among under-age children.

He insisted the scheme should not operate without the involvement of parents.

The C-Card, or condom distribution scheme, is operated within a confidentiality policy that means parents are not informed their children are being given the contraceptives.

A survey canvassing feedback from youngsters who use the C-Card scheme showed great demand and support for the service. Among the comments made were, “It’s good because you can get them after school.”

Another said, “The workers are easy to talk to and I have learned a lot. It’s reliable and puts my mind at rest if I ever have any problems.”

But Tory MP for Monmouth David Davies said, “It’s absolutely disgraceful. The last thing we should be doing is encouraging 13-year-olds to have sex.”

Up to 897 youngsters in Flintshire are using the service – 566 boys and 331 girls.

Father-of-six Mr Isherwood said, “There’s a danger that this can give the green light or the wrong message to a child that it’s a viable alternative and it’s okay.

“There are aspects of youth culture that often glorify under-age sex and see early parenthood as a career option.”

But around 60 youth workers have been trained to implement the scheme and its backers insist it’s a model of good practice used by other Welsh authorities.

Flintshire County Council insists the youth workers follow guidelines laid down by Lord Fraser on distributing contraceptives to teenagers without parental involvement.

A spokesperson said, “Parental consent is not sought as the scheme is operated within a confidentiality policy.

“Where condoms are issued, the Fraser Guidelines are applied in all cases, and the young person’s use of the scheme is closely monitored.

“Young people from the age of 13 can be involved in the C-Card Scheme, which is primarily a means of providing education and advice to young people.”

But Mr Isherwood said Wales has among the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the Western world despite schemes like C-Card.

He said, “Sex education should focus on personal responsibility, on prevention and health and on the moral and emotional aspects of sex and parenthood. Distributing condoms to children at such a young age is a step too far.”

The Fraser Guidelines arose from a case involving Victoria Gillick who went to court to prevent medics giving under-16s contraception without parental permission.

The guidelines say contraceptives should only be given if it’s in the young person’s best interests and they are likely to begin or continue having sex without contraception.